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Known in 1903 as the Real Estate Board Building and today as the
Delaware Building, the eight-story
structure at the northeast corner of Randolph and Dearborn (36 W. Randolph) was designed by Wheelock
and Thomas as part of the Bryant Block, completed in 1874. When it became home to the Real
Estate Board in 1889 there were major changes. Two floors and an atrium were added,
and the width of the building was reduced by nearly half. (Compare the Randolph-street
frontage in the photos above.) The Real Estate Board, including real estate agents,
were not the only tenants in the large structure. Offices were also leased to numerous
small businesses.
On June 6, 1903, the
Klaw and Erlanger syndicate that owned the Iroquois Theater
announced its plan to purchase and raze the building
to erect an eighteen-story hotel — that
they planned to promote as the only fireproof hotel in the Loop.
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